Where are the Women Homesteaders? | Esther Emery
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- Is it true that there aren't many women who are into homesteading? Esther mixes some story with some opinion on the subject of women and the modern homesteading movement.
For my vegan/vegetarian friends, this one does mention killing animals for meat.
Starry Hilder: / starryhilder
Patara of Appalachia's Homestead: / @appalachiashomesteadw...
dirtpatcheaven: / dirtpatcheaven
It hasnt been until these past few years that I was able to put a "label" on my Granny. My Granny was a homesteader. A woman who ran the longest trap line in British Columbia, a woman who owned chickens and cows but didnt have a "farm". A woman who had a garden larger than my house but didnt sell produce. Her caning cellar was MASSIVE and filled with all manner of food products and she had a full little "cabin" completely devoted to smoking the trout from her little fish pond. She made her own medicine and thoroughly believed in the power of the plants around her. She made her own clothes, and much to my dismay growing up, mine! I thought through my youth that my grandmother was the strangest woman that I had ever met and I had a hard time understanding the VALUE of the skills that she was trying to impart on us. Coming from the city my Granny was so far from "normal" she was hard to understand and as a child/preteen she was not the "cool" grandma that would take you to the mall or the movies. She was the grandmother that would teach you to shoot guns, how to filet a fish, what kind of mushrooms you could eat, and how to make "jungle juice", a sweet natural vitamin supplement. This recipe was lost when she passed and I still crave it to this day. I think back now and it is heartbreaking to me that the person I am now never got to meet the person she was then. My granmother was the COOLEST grandma anyone could ask for.
She sounds extremely cool, and you are 25% her, so .... you are awesome too!!!
Brittany Hallam: What a tribute. Beautifully said!
Holy cow, your Granny is amazing. Thanks for sharing her story!
Story of my life lol! Minus the trap line. :)
All of my good memories of childhood involve older women who gardened and cooked. My mother did neither, but I can remember the beautiful rhubarb patch of an adopted aunt, picking strawberries at my grandmother's and the delicious hot lunches another adopted aunt cooked for her husband everyday from the garden. I was drawn to gardening from these strong women.
So true. My family has known single male homesteaders and they have usually failed to remain on their homesteads over the long term. I believe this is because they didn't have a partner in crime with a second set of skills and abilities to complement their own. The most stable homesteads seem to be debt-free families.
Thank you Esther. I think the best homesteaders are doing it as a couple. Together & balanced as 2 people with male and female skills (fysical & mental)
Esther, this post popped up on my feed ... and I thank God for you right now ... because it was an answer to prayer. My husband and I were practicing the concept of homesteading when we started homeschooling our children 20 years ago. But we moved onto 30 acres 17 years ago and I am still struggling with maintaining my "womanhood" when being so isolated, having raised 6 sons (the last one still at home). So many moms, both neighbors and at church, just don't get the idea of homesteading and I even had some tell me to go back to St Louis because they did not want me dragging their girls back into the last century. Few appreciate the self-worth I have in teaching my children the ways of God and keeping the ancient arts alive. One son married a woman who detests my life and wont even let me spend time with my grand daughter because she feels we are irresponsible in this way of life. I can tell you that I was never so proud of my husband as the day when he quit his jetsetting job and started devoting his life to the homestead not just part-time but full-time within his ministry as a deacon and a part time job on the side. I still long for greater appreciation for my identity as a woman beyond my "homesteading strength." Church Community is so important to me, but as years advance and the older generation who supported me pass on, I find myself more and more isolated once again. So how does one find "fellow women homesteaders"? Your channel and others like it have been a God-send! Thank you for your beautiful womanhood and your strength as a homesteader.
Started working at being self-sufficient 10 years ago. Woman homesteader here but not off grid. I like you got tired of feeding poision to my family. We grow most of our own food . Thankyou for being you
I always enjoy your comments and thoughts Esther. I am a born and raised city kid myself, but ended up moving to a small rural village due to my partner Martha's desire to be near an ailing friend. While we are certainly not "homesteading", every year, we come closer and closer to that... last year, I replaced the roof on our house, Ive fixed the siding, re-done electrical and all that... we heat with wood I cut and season, perhaps even in a few years we will be going solar for our electric. And this year, I will be learning to hunt deer. I would not trade this for the city life, ever! I sometimes visit friends in Boston, and every time I go back I thik"How did I ever live like this?" None of this would have been possible without the strong women in my life! I loved your story about the woman with the elk head! I do not know if you have ever seen the documentary on the woman named Agathia... but what an amazingly strong woman... it is what I would call Extreme Homesteading! th-cam.com/video/tt2AYafET68/w-d-xo.html
You are so intelligent, Esther. I wish I had someone like you in my life.
hello esther, i really enjoyed your visit this morning, and i agree with you 100%...ive written to you in the last few days about my family's life in alaska, and we were surrounded by wonderful women who did things just like your friend with the Elk, you're a wonderful voice shouting out from our world of homesteading families, thanks, i hope that many homesteaders and many others will hear this, and that it will help new young families who are thinking of moving out to the bush, have a great day out there in Idaho.
Thank you. I appreciate this very much.
In this family, I am the homesteader most of the time. My husband works long hours 5-6 days a week. I only leave the biggest jobs for when he's home. I love it but it's hard work too. I am seeing more of it too. We did have nearly 2 yrs where both of us were home, I sold chicks,chickens also farmers markets and bartered a lot, he built our structures and made trailers etc to sell. In my opinion that was harder because of being short of money too many times. I wouldn't change anything though, all the experiences are real life. Thank you for sharing your stories, I'm enjoying it
So well spoken. I'm a single mom doing home daycare & a bit of mini urban homesteading. It can be a challenge on your own. But the rewards are amazing, so great for the kids. In many ways it brings a comforting simplicity to life that I cherish so much.
So true! I found this extremely inspirational! I'm a single mom attempting homesteading. I'm determined and convinced that I can do this even without the support of a husband. Hearing other women's grit stories helps me SO much!! Thank you for these stories Esther!! You literally brought me to tears!! ❤️
Love, love, love.
i THINK ALL PPL see Homesteading somewhat differently! I dont see it for men...I see it for Families! But being single...I think anyone can do it! It just is probably somewhat easier for Families. Theres more ppl to take care of things! And of course more ppl to enjoy it all. But I will be doing it alone soon...and enjoy it myself! I love animals, healthy environment and being as self sufficient as possible! I will love it, along with the ups and downs! It is what I want!
Hi Ester We are living right outside of Boston now but our homestead is in rural west tn. My grandparents were classic homesteaders although they never called themselves homesteaders! 😊. Homesteading is my dream but not my husbands. When we make it to our stead I know it will be on me to make it work. I pray that as he sees and feels the freedom of this life, homesteading will win him over. God gave women amazing power to be capable and knowledgeable but use it with a gentleness unlike men. It makes us special to a homestead. Love your talk! Susie
Thank you. Wishing you well!
I live on 40 rural acres in Wisconsin surrounded by almost 200 larger Old Order Amish farms .. and even though I live a more contemporary lifestyle than they do .. I still often interact with them and have learned much from their ways of never having had electricity, rubber tired vehicles or modern conveniences. They travel past my farm using horse and buggy .. so, yes, we do live in different ways .. yet, we still are such good neighbors .. and I can sense in their attitudes toward me that we both value each other's uniqueness.
That was so great to listen to and hear! Thank you Esther!
I've always had a heart and a desire since I was very young to homestead! I would read the books we got through the Rodale book club and my favorite books were the Little House series.
We lived in the big city, yet we had chickens and rabbits...much to the chagrin of our neighbors. Here I am 40 years later, closer to my dream, but those 40 yrs have been spent in the city life, so very far away. My learning curve is through the books I've read, while I have yet to put all of it into real life.
7 yrs ago we bought our land, little by little we have been building it out. we moved nearby but are stuck with the challenge of how to bring in enough income to finish it out so we can actually LIVE on it. (my husband refuses to live there until the well is piped to the building.) and we are out of money. Meanwhile we are living in a community that is suffering economically so our struggle is how to bring in an income to finish the task, and pay our bills. . .
I have felt the isolation too (we've been running out family-run restaurant for tgese past 5 yrs, but our children are needing to fly the coop, and we are dumbfounded as to how to replace the income that has now stopped. ..there are no jobs here. There are so many "homestead" struggles all wrapped up in this!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and giving a place of community to discuss our similar yet different life struggles!
Yes, the problem of poverty in small communities is a very sensitive subject, close to my heart. I almost can't talk about it because it's such a real and painful thing. Leave the city life and leave the city money, my mother used to say. I'm glad you were able to share your story here!
Esther, thanks for all you do. I love your stories.
I am 56, and homesteading on my own. Some days are hard but I wouldn't change it for the world. Just because we are women, doesn't mean we are incapable of living out our dreams, no matter what they may be. Yes it can be intimidating! But if we look fear in the face, and use it as a tool to give us the courage to go after our dreams, anything is possible! To all women out there, you are strong, you can do it. Blessings. :)
Awesome!
I will be 60 next January, and I have started homesteading by myself. I am still on the grid - I live just outside of small town on the Olympic Peninsula, but I am beginning to grow more and more of my own food, again, for health reasons. Sometimes I wish I were as strong as a man my age, but usually I do just fine.
Like you, I moved from an urban center across country. I have met some people here through joining several organizations (Master Gardeners, Beekeepers, Orchard Society, Mycology Group), but I do still feel very isolated at the beginning of my third year here.
As someone who married into a local family who has lived here for multiple generations recently told me, their lives are so busy that they cannot meet up with people they grew up with, much less newcomers to the area.
Luckily, I am an introvert and enjoy my own company, though every once in a while, I do feel a lack of the community that I want to have. I'm building community slowly.
Now I'm raising ducks and geese, planting perennial edibles, and building more and more garden beds in the glacial till I now call home.
Sounds lovely. I've dreamed of living on the Olympic Peninsula. Hoping you find more community as time goes on!
Thank you for another deep and uplifting sharing Esther. God bless you and your family this 2017.
2 stories about my mother in law. We were squirrel hunting one time, and after sitting there a while 2 squirrels came running down a branch of an oak side by side. With one blast of a 20 gauge, she got them both! (I was very nice to her after this😂)
Another time during deer season, there was a group of deer running (yes, running) by her stand about 30 yards out. She dropped all three. We borrowed a friends tiny car to haul them up to the house. One deer on the roof, one in the hatch and one on the hood. Gruesome, but we just made one trip. We got them up to the garage and me, my mother in law, my sister in law and her friend hung, skinned and quartered up all 3 young deer in an hour.
This video really made me think about all she taught me. As much as she's driven me crazy (like any other inlaw) i can never thank her enough for everything shes taught me. 😢❤
I think you guys would have loved my grandmother. She came from Germany around the turn of the last century born in 1896 and her family settled in Gladwin Mich. As a child in the early 70's after my Grandad died I lived with her on the old family farm and in her 70's she still had a monster garden and canned and made sauerkraut and quilted and baked and basically lived like they did 50 years before. She never would teach me German though, lol. Love your channel!! keep the faith!!
I actually know MANY more women who are willing and desire the homesteading life than I do men who want to take on the hard work of homesteading. :-)
Esther, Thank you for sharing your stories.
As the son of a single mother, I can't imagine any story in life being told without the presence of the women that make things happen.
My husband would say the same thing. :) Thanks for commenting.
Power comes in many was of teaching from the kitchen to the shed or barn it all has to come together to make us who we are, Thank you I enjoyed this.
Im a woman and total homesteading geared. And im ok if a guy wants to do it to, but if not , he can follow the trails back to the main road. And good luck to him.
Beautifully said. Thank you
I have been a homesteader most of my life...I was raised on a 1200 acre ranch in the West and then moved to the Rockies where my hubby and I are now homesteading....I wouldn't have given up this life for anything...to this day, I still love frogs, pollywogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, mice and all of the little critters that you get to enjoy on the homestead...there is nothing that refreshes ones soul more than being out in God's creations and doing the work that God intended his people to do as stewards of the land and caretakers of the animals...it is sooo amazing!
Well said, Esther! Homesteading takes men and women to work well, as does all of humanity.
Good video. I cant say I'm truly homesteading, but in trying to make my life more sustainable, I find I need to learn skills that most people would not expect me to learn, but they are required none the less. Trying to rise to the challenge!!
Very good points. Thank you so much for your insight and history.
Wonderful video Esther! It's the yin and yang of it all. There has to be a balance between the feminine and masculine, I think. There is NO way I would ever make it as a homesteader without my partner, she makes up the other half of my world! If not for her motivational skills there would be a lot not done...lol....And I truly see her as a equal partner in all that we do.
Thanks again Esther!! Love this new channel!!
Thank you!
Powerful & true words.
Esther, you are so inspiring. I love your energy and outlook. Thank you for sharing this part of you! :)
HURRAH ! FINALLY someone who speaks honestly about homesteading, which is often romanticized by city dwellers.
I wish that you'd also talk about the economics of homesteading -- Where does the money come from to sustain this lifestyle ? Is homesteading compatible with a modern world of taxes, and regulations, and healthcare, etc.? Does it condemn not only you but your kids to miserable, grinding poverty, a life of economic uncertainly, shackled to your farm, and always fearing the day when you'll be too old, or sick, or injured to work and so sustain yourself and your family? Or is it a really viable way to live?
You are terrific. Thanks for sharing this :)
Thank you!
I’m so glad I found your channel. I feel isolated and don’t have friends who are homesteaders.
Loved it! I am in the "wannabe" stage. learning to garden. just ordered my first water bath canning set. once i master that will try pressure canning. developing skills, getting rid of all debt & dreaming & praying for my homestead. :) you inspire me Esther! thank u so much! God bless!
good for you! enjoy your new adventures and learning lots!
+Bari Spears - thank you!! :)
That's a good stage. Nick and I were able to do a lot in the Boston suburbs that has been hard to pull off in our yurt. Do you have "Radical Homemakers" by Shannon Hayes? That was a really important book for us as we were figuring out what we wanted to do.
+Fouch-o-matic Off Grid - Hi Esther! no I do not, but if you are recommending it then I am buying it. Along with your mom's book too! :) Thank u!
So beautifully said and inspiring. Isolation is so real. I just found your channel and will be catching up on your videos. Oh how I wish we still had those Grandma-women in our lives.
Thank you for this. It really resonates with me. I am actually looking towards the homesteading process and I think what you said makes a lot of sense. I Will not be able to remove myself to the level that your family has but all I want is the simplicity of things.
Did PJF strike a nerve? haha! No, I totally agree, and I love what you've said here. It didn't come across all "women's lib" either, but just that we have an important place and play a huge part in homesteading! Love it! Thanks for sharing. I really enjoy your insights. - Cindy
Enjoyed the video very much, though I was unaware of the gender topic in terms of homesteading. My wife uses a hammer (me) to drive nails, and I use a paint brush (her) to color our world... And quite often, its hard to tell who is playing the hammer and who is the paint brush on any given day... I have noticed that a lot of guys have bright ideas (myself included) like building a chicken coop, but then walk away to leave a spouse or kids to tending the chickens... So we take care not to lengthen each others to do lists - they are full enough. But thank you for bringing the topic to light, we'll be watching for it playing out around us...
Yep public school has one big bonus that is difficult to create in homeschooling, socialization. Giving kids and yes parents a chance to meet eachother.
I think you hit it right with saying homesteading is a city person concept. Homesteading is just something that happens and is just life to rural folks. It is the urban folks who glamorize and even hype it into some romantic dream concept. And yes it is wonderful, it might not be as glamorous or romantic as the city folk think. Still worth the sweat and blisters for sure,.
Maybe it is just my POV, but I seem to see homesteading just a little more female oriented. Partly from the youtube channels I watch there are a lot of women sharing their homestead info. While I do watch plenty of guys, and couples, it seems like a lot of the better channels are women from my POV. Appalachia's Homestead, Starry Hilder, Becky's Homestead, Misty Prepper, Dirtpatchheaven, etc... It also might be somewhat due to being raised by my mother who instilled many of the basics of homesteading to me. Even my thinking of what homesteading is, revolves on creation of "home" on a small rural farm.
But I don't think it is ever a bad idea to give a shout out of appreciation to the ladies involved in homesteading. I definitely enjoy plenty of female homesteaders sharing their info. I have said many times I think a huge part of what is making this modern back to land movement more successful is how the modern homesteader is staying connected via internet. Women homesteaders are able to get online and find a community of other women to share with rather than have to find and depend on local socialization only.
The ability of finding other homesteaders from all around the world online who understand what your doing and going through is something I feel gives modern homesteading a lot better chance of success. As you mentioned that feeling of being alone and isolated is a powerful thing. I think that more than anything else can really cause homestead failures. If you watch survival shows, or read survival books, or have taken any survival courses, again and again moral and positive mental outlook is cited as important as any other aspect of survival. And it often is the mental issue of feeling isolated that really does get to people. Humans are social, we are hardwired for it. Even the most anitsocial person is still fairly social in the bigger picture.
I agree with that completely, about the isolation. Isolation is a method of social control, whether it's intentional or not. It's what keeps people trapped in work patterns that aren't really self-serving. And that's so interesting that positive mental outlook is key to survival. It makes perfect sense, but it interesting that it's actually taught that way!
Oh this video has me crying, I never comment this much, sorry!!This really fed my soul. I'm gonna go subscribe all the women homesteaders channels. One thing I hate to see is the excessive consumerism that promotes waterdowned skills. Hard to get to know the elements and rules involved in a skill set with all that STUFF in the way.
Thanks Esther. Enjoying your new channel.
Thank you.
Keep them coming, I love this channel!!!
Thank you. I'm glad you found this channel!
If I could like this more than once I would.
Thank You! This is great stuff!
I wish someone would discuss the basics of what homesteading is, as though it's a new term that needs defining, because it was only as I watched this video that I realized that some of what I do in simply living my life might be considered a form of homesteading.
That's a great idea. We all probably have different definitions, but it would be fun to discuss.
Another great tea time chat :)
If people are watching this they value your opinion. There is no need to soften it up so as not to offend. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for this video :)
My wife and I have often discussed that so many homestead consist of a man and a women who are both strong and good partners.
I'm a women an I would love to do what Yur doing! I'm a single mom... I haven't had a stove in 5+ years! And No microwave! By choice" I'm canning... I make my own bread... 😋 I live in the city and hate it!!! I'm praying that I Will find my way to a place where I can be get off grid and have my peace of a great life!!! 💖 for my son and i... and hopefully find a great man to join our life's.... Does Nick have a twin brother? Lol lol 😁
Are we going to have anymore Fouch Family VLOGs? We miss your family.
In our family I am the one who has been pushing hard to "homestead" or live a country life. A few more years and we can retire and have a country life. :) I am not willing to go without power though. :)
oh, P.S. i loved hearing the goats this morning.
I've been setting up my tripod right near the barn, because it's quiet and out of the way. They just don't know what I'm doing over there, and why I'm not in the barn giving them treats!
Are there going to be stories with the young lady. I would like to here some stories.
You used the expression, "natural law." Im interested in your take on this.
Great video, I love your perspective, and I just watched the TEDx talk that you gave regarding your detox from the internet & it was so unbelievably insightful and inspiring to me. Thank you :)
I enjoy your storytelling.....
The endings are always so great :)
I'm glad you think so. :)
Love this.
I do believe that men and women are meant for different things, but women do love to farm and see animals and be in that environment (the environment thing more than men in my opinion). A lot of older women are just afraid to go to a homestead, but guys have it a little easier because they don't lose as much when going homesteading, but I'd say that women and men kinda both like it the same.
Thanks
amen
I really love your shirt!! 💕
Thank you!
Hi Esther I have lived on a farm all my life! Not completely off grid but simple. Love your channel! Ck my channel out if you'd like ! Really love your talks hits home every video. like!!
Hunting is just fine, would people rather these animals starve to death. That is one of the mane reasons for hunting. There is only so much food in the winter and controlling herd size is very important.
If we weren't both married...